5 Day Tanzania Big 5 Safari

5 Days Safari: Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

DAY 1: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park

We depart from your lodge in Arusha and proceed to Lake Manyara National Park. Although small in size, this park is one of the most diverse reserves in the country. Lake Manyara covers two thirds of the park. At the backdrop is the wall of the Great Rift Valley, before which lies the ground water forest, areas of open grassland near the lake foreshore, and the Soda Lake. We enjoy a picnic lunch in this area, which consists of open grassy areas, hot springs, dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. Lake Manyara National Park is a birding paradise that has more than 350 species of bird. The park is also famed for its unique and elusive tree-climbing lions. Our dinner and overnight at your included lodging.

DAY 2: Serengeti National Park

We proceed to Olduvai Gorge, known as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’. It was here, in the Great Rift Valley, that the remains of early hominids dating back 2 million years were uncovered. Afterwards, we visit the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world – Serengeti National Park. The word ‘Serengeti’ means ‘endless plains’, which describes the park’s 5,600 square mile boundary. Yet for its sprawling area, the Serengeti does not disappoint when it comes to rich game-viewing. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. We make our way to our lodging for the night.

DAY 3: Serengeti National Park

We embark on an encore game drive in the expansive Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti boasts one of the most varied collection of wildlife on the planet. Annually, from May to December, millions of animals embark on a migration which brings them from central Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara and back again in an incredible spectacle. Even during the ‘down-time’, vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle roam here, along with groups of elephant, giraffe, and buffalo, as the lions, leopard, cheetah, hyenas and jackals stalk their meals. We make our way to our lodging for the night.

DAY 4: Serengeti – Ngorongoro

We depart from the Serengeti to visit the largest intact volcanic crater in the world, the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. At more than 2,000 feet deep and 12 miles in diameter, the Ngorongoro Crater has one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. 30,000 animals make their home in this crater, making it an ideal place for sightings of the ‘big 5? – lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard. This truly world-class attraction is also known as the ’8th Wonder of the World’. We make our way to our lodging for the night.

DAY 5 – Ngorongoro Crater – Departure

After breakfast, with picnic lunch we enter Ngorongoro crater for full day game drive in the crater floor. Later at the late afternoon we depart the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and head back to Arusha. With prior arrangement, we can drop you off at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) after the safari. You can make any flight after 3:00pm.